German soldiers 'drink and complain too much to fight Taleban'

The British Army that faced the Germans in 1940 had been told they(British) were the finest soldiers in the world. It should have been qualified- the finest drill soldiers in the world. Pathetically under equipped, deprived by old WW1 old guard,War Office types. They had drilled and spit and polished to prepare for any future war. They tried to stem Rommels Panzers in Belgium. My Dad one of 'em. He had nothing but respect for the German soldier.

It is tragic to see the demise of the professional fighting soldier. Sure war is an evil thing. Once it happens one can go back in time. Again the British soldier was betrayed in the Crimean War in the 1850's. He did his best and died by the thousand of neglect and disease.

A bit of a long screed, but whoever allowed these German soldiers to even approach this kind of indolence is almost a traitor. Unless the begger sits back and says - if any emergency happens the USA will fix it.

Germany has dodged it's responsibilities for too long.

Hasn’t that always been the story of the British Army? I think Churchill said the British always lose every battle except the last one.

The Brits were certainly caught flat footed in 1940 but then they hadn’t spent a decade preparing for war, the Germans had. Once the British got into their stride the Germans proved that often they could be equally flat footed, maybe not as regards the fighting qualities of the individual German soldier which was of course superb but as the war went on the German high command proved themselves to be every bit as unimaginative and “old guard” as any spit n’ polish British cavalry general of WW1.

One obvious point is in the air war where the Brits proved themselves to be the innovative geniuses able to produce revolutionary aircraft design and navigation systems that the Germans simply couldn’t match. At sea also once the initial phase of the U-Boat war was passed it was the Royal Navy who proved themselves to be the more imaginative and daring and were able to outfight and outwit the Germans with ease.

By the time D-Day came around the British Army was more than a match for the Germans. It is perhaps to the credit of the British that they are usually unprepared for war, but when they get involved they learn from their mistakes very quickly and as Napoleon, the Kaiser and eventually Hitler discovered you dismiss the British Army at your peril.

Again the British soldier was betrayed in the Crimean War in the 1850’s. He did his best and died by the thousand of neglect and disease.

Rudyard Kipling

Tommy
I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,’’ when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it's “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they're starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they're goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy how's yer soul?”
But it's “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind,”
But it's “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires an’ all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it's “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it's Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin’ fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Hasn't that always been the story of the British Army? I think Churchill said the British always lose every battle except the last one.

Thanks for your comments. I had noticed the cap of the German soldier pictured. It seemed to me that it was the style of the old Afrika Corps. Unfortunately the soldier was not very lean. Oh well back to one of the finest war stories based on factual experience by a German.

The Forsaken Army.
Heinrich Gerlach.

The terrible debacle of Von Paulus and the German Sixth Army at Stalingrad. Those who survived were incredible men, Germans or not. Again, the Americans, Australians and British who survived the death railroad in Asia at the hands of the Japanese, deserve mention.

Iron discipline was their watchword. Without it they were finished.

Thanks for the immortal Kipling poem.

Boys I am drawing some favourable comment tonight. I do not think it off the topic to bring up what it means to be a disciplined soldier. 'Ated it meself though, couldn't wait to get to back to civvy street.(laughs).

In these days of volunteer soldiers, if they were ever up against it, they would possibly be absolutely at a loss. I was loaned a book about a special services US soldier who escaped across the mountains in Afghanistan. His name was Mark. That he survived was due to training and an iron will. That he had luck as wekk to be sure.

Those German men are being done no favours.

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